Catsbury Park
If you're ever wandering through Asbury Park, NJ, and your love for cats matches your craving for good coffee and bites, then Catsbury Park is the ultimate hangout spot you didn’t know you needed. Located at 708 Cookman Ave, this cozy and quirky café is where feline charm meets chill café vibes in the most delightful way.
The second you step inside, you’re greeted not just by the warm aroma of espresso, but by a crew of adorable, adoptable cats lounging around like they own the place—because honestly, they kinda do. Catsbury Park isn’t your average coffee shop. It’s part cat sanctuary, part café, and 100% a vibe.
What really sets Catsbury Park apart isn’t just its commitment to giving rescue cats a second chance, but also how it’s built an entire experience around that mission. Whether you’re stopping by for a quick latte or spending an hour in their cat lounge, there’s an undeniable sense of calm and kindness that wraps around the whole space.
Oh, and the menu? Surprisingly solid for a spot where cats are the stars. Expect tasty drinks and vegan-friendly treats that hit the spot without trying too hard. It’s casual, but there’s clear thought behind every detail—just like the way they pair each adoptable kitty with just the right future forever home.
Even if you're not planning to adopt, chilling at Catsbury Park is therapy in itself. It’s the kind of place that feels like a hidden gem, even though locals are definitely in on the secret. Great music, friendly staff, and of course, cats—what more could you want in a weekend hangout?
There’s something magnetic about the place that makes people linger a little longer, sip a little slower, and smile a little wider. Maybe it’s the cats. Maybe it’s the coffee. Probably both.
Reviews
Do you want to play with cats? Of course you do. Catsbury Park has a bunch of kitties ready to play and ready to go home with you as well, if you're looking to adopt! I like the design of this cafe - you have an entrance area with tables and the register where you can purchase your admittance and coffee/tea/pastries/etc. Then you go into the room with the cats and have a ball with them. There is a maximum capacity, so they do limit your stay to 30 minutes if there are people waiting to get in. Otherwise, it's free play for as long as you want to stay. There is an employee in the room at all times, ready to answer any questions about the cats they have. A table in the room has profiles on every cat so if you find someone you think you want to take home with you, grab their fact sheet to read up on 1: if they're already adopted/spoken for and 2: get more information on the cat. We had a great time. It can feel crowded when a lot of people are in the narrow room, especially with crazy cats zipping around, playing with their toys. I had a cluster of cats surrounding me as I played with one of the kittens, almost started a brawl over a toy!
What a wonderful place doing great rescue work for the cats if the area. The food area and the cats are completely separated. There is an $11 entrance fee for adults to play with the cats. While this may seem a bit high, I viewed as a donation to the rescue and to help the cats. There were loads and fully grown and kitten cats. A lot of the cats were quite friendly. The staff was happy to give all of the details on each cat up for adoption. The cafe part serves teas and coffee as well as some sweets. I had the iced mint tea yum and the kitten vegan cookie. Overall the entire family loves the experience.
Great place if you love coffee and cats (two of my favorite genres). You'll pay a tad more here for comestibles, but they're freshly-baked and, at least in terms of what I had, of high quality. My Americano was as good as what I've had in Italy, and that's saying a lot. The chocolate-chip bar, though quite fresh, was a bit sweet for my tastes (then again, I'm not big on pastry and purchased it mostly to support this wonderful place). The staff were also friendly and easy to talk to, including DJ, the manager. One issue that the staff might consider is when a cat is clearly annoyed by visitors' behavior. Everyone who goes into the cat area is a cat lover, since access requires an $11 donation. Nobody that I saw back there meant any harm. But there was a large gray male there on Sunday who, after choosing his spot on a comfy cat tower, just wanted to sleep. People kept waking him as they tried to pet him, and he took a few swipes as well as some attempted bites. His tail was wagging, which is "cat" for "leave me alone". Now, I know that he was fighting with another cat earlier, but he still deserved his nap time. I would just educate visitors on reading cat body language and knowing when to let a cat be. Anyway, I'm glad I got to visit this place after hearing about it for so long (and following on Instagram). I hope to be back soon!
Cute concept. We took our kids here in a cold winter day for something "different" to kill some time. Just wish the kitties were a bit more interactive. We went at a very "sleepy" time. They were all asleep or hiding and few were interacting. But we did get to gently pet a few of the closer ones. Tea was plentiful and the chocolate biscuit was yummy.
What could someone possibly have to say that's bad about a place where you can just hangout with CATS. I love that before you hangout with the cats you can grab a nice drink before heading in. The volunteers are super friendly and just want what is best for the cats. The cafe area is super clean, place smells really nice and welcoming. Definitely a place I will stop in every time I'm in Asbury!